WHEREAS, In the City of Philadelphia findings indicate that communities with the least access to affordable healthy foods also suffer the highest rates of death related to poor nutrition; and
WHEREAS, Of major metropolitan areas in the United States, Philadelphia is second only to Boston in the lowest number of supermarkets per capita, and according to the Food Trust, the number of supermarkets in the lowest-income neighborhoods was 156 percent less than in the highest-income neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, The resulting shortage of supermarkets means that many residents are regularly forced to shop at more expensive corner and convenience stores with less selection and poorer quality food, or to travel out of their communities and the city to purchase food; and
WHEREAS, The lack of affordable, nutritious food choices strains the families’ ability to provide for their children, exacerbates health problems, and increases mortality rates resulting from diet related diseases; and
WHEREAS, Inadequate access to food imposes a significant toll on lower income neighborhoods of Philadelphia, affecting their revitalization, the education of children, and the development of healthy youth and families; and
WHEREAS, Supermarkets are a significant boost to a neighborhood’s economy and may employ between 50 to 100 full-time employees and more than 100 part-time employees, the majority of whom are community residents; and
WHEREAS, For many years, inner-city neighborhoods have been viewed as unprofitable and risky ventures for supermarkets because of higher operating costs and low household incomes; however, new research suggests that traditional business forecasting models do not accurately represent the market potential of these neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, Two of the northeast corridor’s leading chains, Pathmark and Super Stop & Shop, have found that their highest grossing stores are in the inner city; and
WHEREAS, During the Spring of 2003, through the leadership of State Representative Frank Oliver of Philadelphia and State Representative Jake Wheatley of Pittsburgh, statewide hearings were held on this issue and resulted in a report containing various recommendations including state financing programs to help the supermarket industry; and
WHEREAS, On April 16, 2002 the City Council Committee on Public Health & Human Services held a hearing on access to nutritious foods which led to the creation of the Philadelphia Food Marketing Task Force; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Food Marketing Task Force has developed findings on how to increase the availability of affordable and nutritious foods in Philadelphia; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, That the City Council Committees on Commerce & Economic Development and Public Health & Human Services are authorized to hold hearings regarding the report developed by the Philadelphia Food Marketing Task Force as a result of hearings held on April 16, 2002 on Resolution 020133 and to explore opportunities for developing programs and policies to help attract supermarkets to improve access to food nutrition and jobs in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.
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